disappointed rant..

[hebe]

I was going to blog this, but I think here is probably a better place.

I mentionned to dd's God-parents (great long-standing friends of both dh and I) that I was hoping to ride with dd in a trailer on-road later this year. They were both genuinely horrified that I'd even consider it. They're not cyclists. They live in London, whereas I'm in the country, so there's a bit of difference in terms of traffic. Round here the traffic is used to tractors and horses and carts, so is rather slower, and I would be hugely careful about mitigating any risk by taking some more instruction, practising on quiet roads, planning routes carefully and staying well within my capabilities. It's not as if we live in a risk-free bubble anyway, and I really want dd to grow up with choices to the car available to her.

I've spent a good hour this afternoon looking at UK accident stats, and it seems that cycling is signficantly safer than walking or driving. If I was learning to drive I don't think they'd have been in the slightest bit worried. I'm quite sad about it, they'd be the first people to encourage dd to be independent but I'm disappointed that they think I'd willingly be risking dd.

sigh. Thank you for reading.

[Crankin]

Ignore them. You said it yourself: they are not cyclists.

[Bluetree]

Ignore them. You said it yourself: they are not cyclists.

+1.

I rode through the UK and it's actually one of the better (safer) places to ride. I rode from London, thru Wiltshire and Somerset to Devon (Teignmouth), then went back and north thru Gloucester and Cardiff before being stopped in Shropshire because of horrible weather. There really is no comparison to the aggressive/angry drivers and some subpar road conditions I have to deal with in the States.

You live in beautiful country – don't let old fuddyduddies deter you from seeing it on two wheels!

[redrhodie]

Yes, non-cyclists often don't get it, and it can be surprising when it's someone you think would understand. I think your dd will love it, and you will find it safe, fun, economical, and useful. Go for it!

[lph]

ah, sheesh, it's the "cycling is incredibly dangerous" reflex kicking in. Isn't that annoying...

We got the same from my in-laws. We rode our bikes everywhere, they talked about it with awe and amazement. We had a baby, they helped us buy a trailer, we rode everywhere with him we could, on closed roads, quiet streets, bike paths and sidewalks. I overheard MIL "bragging" to some friends in a shocked tone about how we "took him in the trailer everywhere, right out on the motorway in all the traffic and cars!" :rolleyes:

At the time I flipped and went all righteous and pontificating on her, but it's just that she had never had need to differentiate between the risk level on the motorway and on a quiet residential street because she drives her **** car everywhere.

[limewave]

I pulled DD in a trailer all the time before DS came a long. My parent's completely flipped out about it. They eventually learned to bite their tongue. We'd often do 30 mile rides. I even brought DD along to a weekly women's group ride.

We have the burley solo, which seats only one and is therefore narrower--we could really hug the side of the road.

[hebe]

Thank you for all the replies.

Bluetree, your journey sounds wonderful. Teignmouth is so beautiful and you passed through such stunning places. I live in Wiltshire, near Avebury. I should say that they are two of the least "fuddy-duddy" folk I could imagine - considerate, loving, assertive, widely travelled and adventurous. I was honestly stunned by their opinions.

Limewave, we were looking at the Burley Solo too. It's encouraging that you had so much wear from it. lph, Crankin, Muirenn and RedRhodie, thank you. With such limited experience it's sometimes hard to tell if I am being over-ambitious, especially after such a bad start with the bike seat :o, but we only get one go at raising a child, right? She absolutely adored the Burley that we had on holiday and we enjoyed riding with it. I can also hire bikes + trailers locally so will have another go before committing the cash.

Thank you again.

[PamNY]

I can't speak as a parent, but speaking as a former child, I'm glad my parents were somewhat adventurous.

Have fun with your travels!

[PinkBike]

that was a really nice thing to say PamNY. +1 to everyone else.

[Jones]

I think when people are scared they like to blame the activity instead of admitting to the fear themselves. It is so much easier to say bike riding is unsafe then to say I am scared to ride a bike in traffic. I don't think your friends meant to offend, I think they are scared to ride a bike.
Jones

[Biciclista]

ps, bottom line, they're your kids!
we want to see pictures!

[Melalvai]

Sure it's disappointing now, but think how amazing you'll feel when they have a complete turn around because you opened their eyes to a whole new world.

[isconniethere]

There are some good books out there on the subject of bikers taking their children biking, including cross country rides, such as books by the
"Metal Cowboy", Joe Kurmaskie. I heard him speak about the cross-country trip he took with his boys and it was a great experience.

[Bike Writer]

Hebe, I have family members who ride with their tots in buggys behind the bike and have been doing it for quite a while since she has three little ones. The oldest now rides his bike and his lil sisters are in the cart. We live in a semi rural area that has a bit of an urban component as we have a small downtown with shops and stores but no high speed traffic through town.

I can understand how people who don't cycle don't understand it and it may sound very scary to them. I bet it's all the worse because they are friends and obviously you value their judgement because you chose them for Godparents, so I can see how this would be disturbing. Naturally you would want them to embrace the idea and they are not doing that. In the end you are the parents and perhaps in time they will accept and support your venture with your daughter. Sometimes people just need time to warm up to an idea. Also letting them know that you value their opinion so much that you have checked into safety stats will send a strong message to them about your friendship and your concern for the safety of your daughter.

You're a good mom and a conservative parent, have fun introducing your daughter to this and watch her love of outdoors and cycling bloom.

You need your alone time on the bike and time spent on bikes with family too. Who knows, maybe when the Godparents visit you may all go for a ride someday?

Have fun! Your daughter is a lucky little girl to have a mommy that wants to share her joyful passion with her.

[blackhillsbiker]

When oldest DD was small, she went everywhere on the back of DH's bike. We just got her an adorable, bright pink helmet. I wish we had been able to get a trailer when we had twins three years later. Our cycling stopped until the kids were old enough to join us on their own bikes. Of the three, the oldest is the only one who continues to cycle. I think it is because of all the lovely memories of the three of us and our cycling when she was small.

Deb

[Mr. Bloom]

Yesterday, I saw two parents each pulling their kids in trailers on a busy secondary road. While not "necessary", I very much respect that they had the trailers well lighted even in daytime for emphasis.

Some people will never understand...all you can do is be safe no matter what...

[Thorn]

A published opinion: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/magazine/12FOB-Ethicist-t.html

Aside: on one of our cycling trips we ran into a couple and their 2 year old who joined them in her trailer (emphasis on "her" -- just ask her). The daughter thought it was fun; the couple had an excuse to travel slower, see more, take more breaks -- and, best part? They all got to talk to more locals who simply had to meet the "little cyclist".

[hebe]

Thank you all so much. That link is thought-provoking, thank you Thorn.

We are currently bike-free for a few days at my parents in the rain, so I'm getting some time to think about all this. I'm also considering putting her back into a wrap or baby carrier which should open up a few bus options too. I won't be able to do that for long as she's 28lbs now.

[malkin]

All of the above AND what's more, you're the mum; you know best!

[Irulan]

When all other arguments fail, you can say "the pediatrician says....".

I used this on on my MIL when we were having the moccasin vs. orthopedic shoe argument. "my pediatrician says it's best..." shut her right up.

[hebe]

Thanks Malkin, Irulan, I appreciate everyone's replies very much as they've helped put everything in perspective.

I hired a trailer this morning, there is a place 2 minutes away that hires them out. It was a big heavy Raleigh Avenir, but in great condition and very clean. Small girl absolutely loved it, and I did too. It was good to see that cars gave us more space and lots of pedestrians smiled or stopped to ask about the trailer.

So I want to go for it. It was fantastic to be out getting exercise and just having her right there behind me, and not having to worry about getting back in time for nursery.

[Biciclista]

wonderful news!

[PamNY]

That is so wonderful!

[Bike Writer]

Sounds like the two of you had a wonderful time. How nice you are teaching your daughter to be active and enjoy the outdoors - what a great role model for her!

[Roadtrip]

Brilliant. Glad you guys had a great time!! Now, if you don't mind... tell this weather to agree with my plans to ride so I can get out and about. Last two weeks it's been either raining or I've been working late!

I "hear" it'll be near 60 on Saturday with Sunny skies... so I'm hopeful :)

Shannon

[malkin]

Your post gave me a big smile for you and your small girl!

[hebe]

Brilliant. Glad you guys had a great time!! Now, if you don't mind... tell this weather to agree with my plans to ride so I can get out and about. Last two weeks it's been either raining or I've been working late!

I "hear" it'll be near 60 on Saturday with Sunny skies... so I'm hopeful :)

Shannon

Fingers crossed! Today is cold, rainy and windy so I'm glad I seized the moment and went out yesterday.

sorry, photo not working!

And I'm thinking of buying one of these (http://www.madison.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?vertical=Cycling&tier1=Transport%2c+Storage+%26+Car+Racks&tier2=Bike+Trailers&catref=ADBAT3). We can't really justify a Burley as we've had a whole load of unexpected expenses, but this one was recommended by a lbs that I trust.

[hebe]

We bought the trailer, assembled it, and I did a test ride to nursery and back this morning. It was absolutely fine, nice and light. Traffic was on the whole really positive, lots of smiles and waves and courtesy, and just one inconsiderate person who cut me up at a roundabout. grrrr. The journey is about 2miles each way, of which about half is off-road or on shared paths and the on-road sections are quiet residential streets. I'm pretty proud of myself right now :)

[Tri Girl]

By golly, you SHOULD be proud of yourself!!! I'M proud of you!!! Glad to hear that the new trailer is working out and that your baby girl loves it! You will BOTH be much happier for having done what your heart wants: to ride and be outside! :)

[Bike Writer]

We bought the trailer, assembled it, and I did a test ride to nursery and back this morning. It was absolutely fine, nice and light. Traffic was on the whole really positive, lots of smiles and waves and courtesy, and just one inconsiderate person who cut me up at a roundabout. grrrr. The journey is about 2miles each way, of which about half is off-road or on shared paths and the on-road sections are quiet residential streets. I'm pretty proud of myself right now :)

WOW, I should say so! This is going to be the start of something great for you and for your small girl. I'm very happy for you both.

[marni]

go hebe go hebe go!!! Pretty soon the little one will be shouting " faster mummy, faster!";)

[PamNY]

We bought the trailer, assembled it, and I did a test ride to nursery and back this morning. It was absolutely fine, nice and light. Traffic was on the whole really positive, lots of smiles and waves and courtesy, and just one inconsiderate person who cut me up at a roundabout. grrrr. The journey is about 2miles each way, of which about half is off-road or on shared paths and the on-road sections are quiet residential streets. I'm pretty proud of myself right now :)

Congratulations! You should be proud. So glad all went well, and I look forward to hearing of more happy adventures.

ETA: I just noticed the thread title. Lovely to see the positive turn this discussion has taken.

[hebe]

Thank you so much!

Tri Girl, I like your blog very much and I love the stick-man cycling cartoon blog that you linked to. I printed a couple off and gave them to my cycling instructor.

The weather forecast for Thursday is looking dry so I plan to do the first proper nursery run then :D We were going to ride it to a new park this afternoon but small girl fell asleep after lunch. The next thing I have to work out is how to park it securely in town without it obstructing the footway/other cycleracks.

[spokewench]

way to go

[hebe]

Here's a photo of bike and trailer at the play park this morning. I love it. So many more people give us space, with the exception of the idiot who reversed out of a carpark entrance in front of me (and the car right behind me). I'm so grateful that I was taught well.

[hebe]

... and I did the nursery pick up with the trailer today. I was driving her in this morning (we were late and it looked like rain) and she said "Can I ride in the trailer today?" So I picked her up later by bike :D

It's such a small thing but it's making such a difference - I've done 7miles by bike this week that I'd have otherwise done by car. So I'm fitter, dd has had more time in the fresh air, and I haven't been wasting fuel on short journeys. Drivers are generally excellent too, I'm getting a lot of courtesy and friendly waves even when the trailer is empty! Thanks again for all the sensible advice.

[PamNY]

Yay for you Hebe. I love hearing success stories.

I know what you mean, but it's really not a small thing. I hope you continue to have fun!

[Tri Girl]

Yay for hebe!!!! Glad to hear that purchasing the trailer and making the change from short drives to short rides is improving BOTH of your lives! Hooray!:D:):D:)

[lph]

wonderful, hebe, put a smile on my face :)

[ClockworkOrange]

Oh hebe, what a super thread, I had not read this before, it started a bit doom and gloom BUT WOW, how super to have your darling little girl in the trailer, she must think she’s got a well cool Mum.........and she’s right. :D

Independence, fresh air and freedom for both of you.

Wishing you lots of fun in the future.

You so made me smile tonight too. :)

[Bike Writer]

... and I did the nursery pick up with the trailer today. I was driving her in this morning (we were late and it looked like rain) and she said "Can I ride in the trailer today?" So I picked her up later by bike :D

It's such a small thing but it's making such a difference - I've done 7miles by bike this week that I'd have otherwise done by car. So I'm fitter, dd has had more time in the fresh air, and I haven't been wasting fuel on short journeys. Drivers are generally excellent too, I'm getting a lot of courtesy and friendly waves even when the trailer is empty! Thanks again for all the sensible advice.

Wow, this is working out so good for the two of you and look at all the positive side benefits!

[hebe]

I did both nursery runs with the bike and trailer today. Small girl is sporting a bump on her forehead and matching grazed knees. From falling over at nursery. Which says just a little bit about the relative risk of riding in a trailer versus being at nursery, I think. ;)

I do however have to have a look at the mounting on the comfort bike. It has never felt as secure (in my head) as the one on the Spesh, even after I got Mr Hebe to double-check it, and when we were nearly home things started feeling not quite right and it turned out that the rear wheel quick release skewer was working loose, possibly helped by the trailer safety retaining strap which had worked its way under the quick release lever. I always try to wrap it so that that can't happen, but clearly didn't manage that today. If it's not a quick fix tonight then I'll take the mounting off that bike until I can talk to the LBS to sort it out. I'm wondering if that bike needs a longer quick release skewer. Lesson learned with trusting instincts however, I'll be sticking to the Spesh and double checking the mounting itself as well as the clips and straps and tyres before each ride.

[Karma007]

This whole thread is fascinating to me. When my daughter was born,we didn't have a car. We scored a trailer with our tax refund, and at the age of 4 months old, she was being wheeled behind a bike! I figured out how to strap in her car seat, and we used to go everywhere. I was 21, and it never even occurred to me to do anything differently! I applaud you, hebe!

[hebe]

Thank you Karma, what a lovely story.

I tipped the (empty) trailer over today on the way to pick dd up from nursery :( I ride down a road, then go straight over a dropped kerb to join a shared pedestrian/cycle path. Every day it works like a charm. Except today I had a car sitting alongside the end of the trailer which wouldn't either go past or drop back (it happens a bit, tends to be older couples peering into the trailer). So I took the dropped kerb at a narrower angle than I would normally do as there was no space to move out, and the trailer went onto its side on the pavement (sidewalk). Followed by the woman in the car yelling "Is there anyone in there? Is there anyone in there?" at the trailer before her husband sped off while she was still shouting. I checked the bike and trailer all over, phoned the LBS and checked it all over again, and then rode to nursery and brought small girl back very slowly and carefully. Other than one small rip to the outer cloth and a scuff to the paintwork on the bumper it is fine. I still feel a bit shook up but will learn from this to take a bit more of the road earlier on and to hold my nerve even when people are driving too close. They had ample time and space to pass me, and complete visibility of the road ahead. I'm very grateful that it didn't happen with dd in the trailer.

[Biciclista]

wow, Hebe, I'm glad the trailer was empty too your daughter would NOT have been pleased. The sad part is the drivers have NO idea what happened.

Keep trying. we're all enjoying your adventure

[hebe]

Thank you. the Mister has just got home and checked everything over, so we'll be back on the bike and trailer tomorrow a little bit wiser, a little bit further out from the kerb and a little bit slower when going over it. A loaded trailer helps a lot in terms of stability, it's definitely more flighty without Small Girl in it.

I forgot to say, I spent a good hour reattaching the spare hitch point to the Marin last weekend and testing it and it's fine now. The Spesh is easier for getting the trailer up the hills but the Marin has better visibility from its more upright riding position, and also rolls a bit faster as it has more road-friendly tyres.

[Bike Writer]

Thank you Karma, what a lovely story.

I tipped the (empty) trailer over today on the way to pick dd up from nursery :( I ride down a road, then go straight over a dropped kerb to join a shared pedestrian/cycle path. Every day it works like a charm. Except today I had a car sitting alongside the end of the trailer which wouldn't either go past or drop back (it happens a bit, tends to be older couples peering into the trailer). So I took the dropped kerb at a narrower angle than I would normally do as there was no space to move out, and the trailer went onto its side on the pavement (sidewalk). Followed by the woman in the car yelling "Is there anyone in there? Is there anyone in there?" at the trailer before her husband sped off while she was still shouting. I checked the bike and trailer all over, phoned the LBS and checked it all over again, and then rode to nursery and brought small girl back very slowly and carefully. Other than one small rip to the outer cloth and a scuff to the paintwork on the bumper it is fine. I still feel a bit shook up but will learn from this to take a bit more of the road earlier on and to hold my nerve even when people are driving too close. They had ample time and space to pass me, and complete visibility of the road ahead. I'm very grateful that it didn't happen with dd in the trailer.

You must have been pretty shook up. I'm sorry this happened to you but glad that your little girl was not in it. Sounds like you learned a lesson the easier way, scary none the less.

[limewave]

Glad you are alright. That is scary. I have that happen sometimes too with cars, they slow and hover just behind me. Always creepy.

One time I rolled the trailer with DD in it, I think she was 1.5 years old at the time. It startled her, but the roll cage worked perfectly and she was very secure in the trailer. Phew!

[hebe]

Thank you both. She has a helmet and a 5-point harness in there, so I'm sure (in my head at least) that she is well protected. Thinking about it this morning there is a fractionally longer route I can take to the bike path that eliminates the dropped kerb.

Limewave, that must have been startling for you too. It's very reassuring that I'm not the only person to have done this.

[alice]

I can't speak as a parent, but speaking as a former child, I'm glad my parents were somewhat adventurous.


I went everywhere in a bike trailer as a kid, and those are some of my favorite memories of childhood!

[hebe]

hey everyone - another quick update on here. The summer is over and I'm towing Small Girl again. She will start school in a year's time and I am determined not to be part of the congestion around the local schools so am planning to become a more frequent trailer user in the meantime. She is so sweet, whenever I shortcut across a bit of green she shouts "Back on the road, Mummy!" In her nursery log-book one of the staff has written about how Small Girl told her that Mummy would come and collect her on the bike at lunchtime <3 Autumn has a strong foothold now and we are getting some very bumpy rides over paths carpeted with acorns and beech nuts.

The local schools that I've visited so far has been very positive about cycling there, and both have offered to provide space to store the trailer during the day if I don't want to tow it home and back empty, one also offered to store my bike as well! It has been very inspiring.

[Sardine]

Good for you hebe. Now that the school term has started again I'm back to dodging the school run 4x4s pulling over without signalling and car doors opening on my commute to work. On a positive note, I've noticed more parents riding to school with their kids and a few more trailers and cargo bikes too. The kids always look like they're enjoying the ride, though I don't blame your little one for wanting a smoother ride. It's conker season too of course. Nice to know that the school is being supportive. Maybe we are making progress, albeit a bit slowly

[withm]

. It's conker season too of course.

What's a conker?

[Sardine]

Horse chestnuts. They're all over the ground at the moment, especially in parks and on tree lined streets. Defintely to be avoided when you're going downhill at speed on skinny tyres.

[Biciclista]

we call them horse chestnuts, i believe :)

[hebe]

What's a conker?

Horse-chestnuts - shiny brown nuts in a very spiky outer husk.

Sardine, the school run horrifies me. I really don't get why one would need a 4x4 to take a single child to school when you don't live in a rural village farm.

[Irulan]

. I really don't get why one would need a 4x4 to take a single child to school when you don't live in a rural village farm.

It's an American thing.:rolleyes:

[Biciclista]

uh, to my surprise, Sardine is from the UK!! she's the one who mentioned the 4x4s I am rather shocked.

[Sardine]

They're pretty common in London and I believe other UK cities too and it's got nothing to do with potholes. Most never even get dirty.

[Irulan]

Potholes as justification for owning an SUV? LOL.

[Sardine]

Potholes as justification for owning an SUV? LOL.

Precisely. There is no justification for driving a suv in London as far as I can see.

ETA: Sorry, I should have indicated in my previous post that I was being ironic

[smilingcat]

I see. Driving a 4x4, a big hunkin' SUV to avoid the pot holes. How shweet. LOL... Must be tough to make a go in the urban jungle. Never know whats around the corner...

And I thought gas (petrol) was EXPENSIVE... how much for a litre? That'll be a quart for us in US.

I'm living in the civilized exoburb of Portlandia and doing quite fine with my very small flock of chicken, and reasonable size yard to produce more than enough food for us. And oh since we don't live in a jungle, tad more civilized here, so we drive a Prius.

[Irulan]

Precisely. There is no justification for driving a suv in London as far as I can see.

ETA: Sorry, I should have indicated in my previous post that I was being ironic

Well, so am I. :-)

[marni]

here in texas, in the greater Houston Metro area, the suburban mom SUV has been replaced by an equal mix of civilian humvees and the high jacked up white Ford f 150 pickups with the trailer hitch, mud crawler tires and come along in front. Needless to say, we are at least 40 miles from anything even vaguely resembling an open field or farm.

Our local elementary school is on a divided 2 lane road which is really only one lane from about 11:00AM to 4:00 PM as the cars all "stack " in the no parking zone for a block on either side of the school while the moms leave the humvees and trucks running while they dart into school to pick up the little preciouses.

sigh.......

[Selkie]

The most popular justification I've heard is that the SUV driver is "safer" than those in smaller cars. Plus, they need all that room to cart their one overprivileged child's stuff around. (snark alert!) How did my parents ever manage hauling four kids around in a 4-door sedan back in the olden days? :p

[Irulan]

.

To stay relative to the OP's story I have this to share.

I've been doing grocery shopping with a retired two kid trailer. On my way home one day, the hitch clamp came undone in the middle of a somewhat busy intersection. I had a full load in the trailer, and everything went flying. There were potatoes rolling, loaves of bread.... Meanwhile, there were drivers in the intersection that were totally freaked: "OMG, do you have a baby in there?". No, just potatoes. I'm scrambling all over the pavement gathering my groceries....

[tulip]

.

To stay relative to the OP's story I have this to share.

I've been doing grocery shopping with a retired two kid trailer. On my way home one day, the hitch clamp came undone in the middle of a somewhat busy intersection. I had a full load in the trailer, and everything went flying. There were potatoes rolling, loaves of bread.... Meanwhile, there were drivers in the intersection that were totally freaked: "OMG, do you have a baby in there?". No, just potatoes. I'm scrambling all over the pavement gathering my groceries....

Oh my, that's quite a story! That happened to me with panniers full of groceries. They were the cheap-o grocery bag panniers that fold flat when not in use. Eggs are not pretty when they fall onto the street. It was the first time I used those panniers, too, and they were advertised as grocery panniers.

[hebe]

Sadly, people think that their children are safer in them because visibility is better from higher up. Except they are not really safer, and they are far more dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists and to the environment. Don't even get me started on people who leave their 4x4s with the engine running in the nursery carpark. Whilst they are stood chatting in the entrance hall other people and their children have to walk through their exhaust fumes. <mutteringdarkly> It is exactly the same here, a perfectly good road with a lane in each direction has its capacity halved at drop-off/pick up times. And this is at a school with a purpose built underpass, so that parents can park away from the main road and walk under it. But no, they all park up on the main road then cross, with buggies and children, from between all the parked cars. Madness.

eta, sorry, I missed all the comments on page 5 too! Yes, it is funny how drivers suddenly come over all responsible when they think you might have spilled a child. And quite strange how they don't seem to believe you when you say no, there's no-one in there.

[hebe]

Another update for my trailer thread :) dd's nursery has moved to new premises which are less than a mile away, so I am resolved to ride to nursery much more often. The route is easier, on the whole, though it does go through an industrial estate with quite a few lorries and there's an uphill stretch which is hard on early morning thighs when towing close to 60lbs... And there's a roundabout (we cross the rush hour traffic) which I was dreading, but actually isn't too bad as the visibility is much better from a bike than from the car. It's riding on the road all the way, which is much easier with the trailer than having to get on and off multi-user paths.

Anyway, today dh towed her to nursery and I did the pickup by bike too. She does 8 trips there or back in total over 4 sessions and my target is to do at least 2 or 3 of them by bike each week. It doesn't sound much, but it's a lot more than I was managing at the other nursery, which took over twice as long to get to.

[laura*]

And there's a roundabout (we cross the rush hour traffic) which I was dreading, but actually isn't too bad as the visibility is much better from a bike than from the car.

Roundabouts* can work wonderfully for cyclists! I don't know if in the UK you have the concept of "taking the lane", but upon approaching a roundabout a cyclist can simply take the lane and proceed through the roundabout just like any other vehicle. There's no worries of being right hooked or left crossed (left hooked and right crossed for you).

A city here installed a roundabout leading to a popular beach area. It is not clear if it works - it could be that Americans simply don't know what to do with a roundabout, or maybe the traffic is just too jam packed for it to work right. However, it is great when on a bike!

* Hereabouts they're called "traffic circles", but I like "roundabout" better!

[Crankin]

Or, you could live in Massachusetts, where they are called rotaries, and no one knows what to do. I live about 1.8 miles from one of the most dangerous ones in the state.

[marni]

Or, you could live in Massachusetts, where they are called rotaries, and no one knows what to do. I live about 1.8 miles from one of the most dangerous ones in the state.

ahh.. fond ( or terrifying, depending on your point of view) memories of teaching two sons to navigate the Concord Rotary when learning how to drive.

I was once trapped on a 9 in let roundabout in England for 7 times around before I actually was able to spot the roadway I needed. There's something about driving from the wrong side (the right) of the car that is very difficult, I was always looking over the wrong shoulder to see if it was clear to mere or change lanes. Fond memories none the less.

marni

[Owlie]

Or, you could live in Massachusetts, where they are called rotaries, and no one knows what to do. I live about 1.8 miles from one of the most dangerous ones in the state.

People couldn't figure out the mini-roundabout in front of the public library. Thankfully, we don't have them on roadways here! (They have a couple in Arizona, though. Odd.)

[Crankin]

Yes, Marni, tackling the rotary was the piece de resistance of driver's education.
I let DH do that one, although DS#2 was fine, since he had already ridden his bike through it :eek:. Of course, I found out about that like 3 years ago.

[Catrin]

People couldn't figure out the mini-roundabout in front of the public library. Thankfully, we don't have them on roadways here! (They have a couple in Arizona, though. Odd.)

We have a good number of roundabouts in the Indianapolis area, primarily in the communities just north of Indy. If they are designed properly, once people become accustomed to them they do decrease congestion and help to lower emissions.

[hebe]

That's really interesting! Four way stop junctions always confuse me slightly, but I do find roundabouts quite straightforward. Some parts of the UK call them "islands", but to me "roundabout" does describe it perfectly. I do take the lane, especially with the trailer, and the hardest part is the camber which can mean that I'm setting off (often from a standing start), uphill, on a curve and with an extra 50lbs behind me.

The most difficult one I ever drove is in Swindon. Called the "Magic Roundabout", it comprises 5 mini roundabouts in a circle, and you end up with an outer ring of traffic going one way and an inner ring of traffic going the opposite way. Everyone gives way to the right and somehow it all works. It makes my head hurt though.

[hebe]

It's time for a quick update. I'm not riding the nursery run often. It's short, but quite unpleasant to ride. There are often lorries parked in no-parking zones, the route involves turnings at a lorry training school and then again at a building materials despatch company, and the car traffic can be very busy/congested if a shift is finishing at one of the factories along the way. The road surface is dreadful, small girl complains about the bumps. Pedestrians don't fare any better - where there are sidewalks there are few dropped kerbs and there is a lot of parking on the sidewalks. I really feel for the mummies who are pushing buggies to one of the two nurseries on the estate. All of that said, it looks like the petrol delivery drivers may be going on strike , in which case I'll be back towing again so as not to burn fuel on relatively short journeys.

[tinyhelmets]

We've started leaving the car home more often and have two little ones (1 and 3). If anyone is interested, my website is: www.tinyhelmetsbigbikes.com. We've done the trailer thing (great!) and have now upgraded to a Yuba Mundo (www.yubaride.com). I love how it gets my kiddos up off the ground and within arms reach. The boys love riding! I just try to be as visible as possible and use common sense.

[hebe]

It is lovely to see a child enjoying a bike ride. I think I'll be using a trailer for a while yet, and will switch to a trailer-bike after that.

I realised this morning that my car journeys are starting to be shorter than my bike rides, which is clearly wrong. I rode dd to nursery, and it was fine. I'm going to do it again tomorrow.

[tinyhelmets]

How old is your DD? Glad you're still getting some riding in. Have you heard of Kidical Mass? http://www.kidicalmass.org/ Maybe you could get one started where you live, safety in numbers and all.